The soft property/casualty insurance market continued through the second quarter of the year, according to a survey released Wednesday by the Risk & Insurance Management Society Inc.

The “RIMS Benchmark Survey,” administered by New York-based consultant Advisen Ltd., found that average renewal premium dropped between 2.5% and 3.8% for property, general liability, directors and officers liability and workers compensation insurance.

The survey, based on information provided by risk managers, found that workers compensation experienced the greatest decline in the second quarter, at 3.8%, while property and D&O dropped by 3.5%.

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A federal plan to use ash waste from coal-fired power plants to shore up some Mississippi River levees drew objections Thursday from environmentalists who are worried that toxins in the ash might seep into the river and public water systems it serves.

The Sierra Club and other nature groups lined up against the Army Corps of Engineers’ plan, worrying during a public hearing that the use of coal or fly ash questionably could extend later to levees along other inland rivers and perpetuate coal burning, widely believed to contribute to global warming.

“If this should turn out to be toxic (after it’s been injected into a levee’s weak spots), how do we get it back out?” Tom Ball, a member of the Sierra Club and Missouri Stream Team, pressed during the 90-minute hearing that drew about 50 people, including electric utility representatives.

“This fly ash is hazardous waste, regardless of what you call it,” added Catherine Edmiston, an environmentalist heading an Illinois group opposing longwall mining. Full Post…

Learn what’s included in a standard insurance policy for homeowners insurance in this free video series that will explain all the different caveats of homeowners insurances policies. Expert: Romie Brown Bio: Romie Brown has been an insurance agent for 10 years. He was named one of the top 100 new agents in his company in 1999, 2000 and 2001. He is a 1992 Graduate of the University of Toledo. Full Post…

The cheapest class of life coverage has always been a term life insurance, at least from the moment it appears on the market in the 1970s. However, even if this insurance is the single life cover you are able to buy, there are several ways to reduce expenses and research plans that are even cheaper. Here’s some easy tips how to get cheap term life insurance.

Not all policies are created equal and not all companies sell the same type of insurance, although there is one key idea when it comes to term life: you acquire the policy for a specified period and this period can determine your monthly premium. Full Post…

To feel safe in all conditions is the innermost desire of any human being. Popularity of home insurance is the proof of this.

Let us start with an example. You are making good money. Your children are studying in good schools. Your family life is going on easily and you are satisfied with your job. You can be sure of all these but are you sure that you, your family and your home is safe against any bad happening. One thing is sure that answering this question is not very easy. Because no one can be sure of his/her safety in any situation or at any point of time. Life is the name of uncertainty. That is the reason why people go for insurance.

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U.S. property/casualty insurers reported $11.5 billion in net profit for the first three months of this year, compared with a $900 million loss for the same period a year ago, said Oldwick, N.J.-based A.M. Best Co. in a special report.
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Best said the improvement was driven largely by $2.9 billion in realized capital gains in the first quarter, which compared with $7.9 billion in realized capital losses for the comparable 2009 period.

Among other results, net premiums written fell for an unprecedented 10th consecutive quarter, by 1.2% to $105.8 billion, said Best. The combined ratio improved 1.2 points to 101.1%. Full Post…